Background
1. 18,700+ biographies (18767 from search for “*”)
2. Oxford Companion to United States History (900+ articles) – provides context
and background
3. 2,700 illustrations
4. “More than a decade in preparation, the American National Biography is the first
biographical resource of this scope to be published in more than sixty years.”
Previous was Dictionary of American Biography (20 volumes between 1926 and
1937)
5. Published in 24 volumes in 1999, winner of the American Library Association's
Dartmouth Medal as the best reference work of the year.
6. The ANB Online features thousands of illustrations, more than 80,000
hyperlinked cross-references, links to select web sites, and powerful search
capabilities.
7. Updated twice a year.
8. The American National Biography is published by Oxford University Press under
the auspices of the American Council of Learned Societies.
Home Page
1. Biography of the day – print (with image), email (full text & image?), citation, links
in text listed in cross references (left column) – follow link then show trail back at
top-right, bibliography, Ox Comp if available.
2. From the home page, do a quick search for biographies or historical and cultural
topics
3. Explore articles (=Research ideas) – literature, related links. To help students get
started
4. Teachers’ Guide – e.g. How to read a biographical essay, Use the image to learn
more about a subject, - in-depth lesson plans.
5. Reviews and Testimonials
What’s New
Quick Search
1. Look for Jane Addams. Not sure of spelling so “a*ams”, icons for images & links.
Additional results from Ox Comp. Also search for “addams”, “jane addams”,
“addams, jane”
2. Mark Twain – end of biography, Online Resources. Sections. Cross References.
Oxford Companion to US History.
3. Benjamin Franklin – long biography, link to ODNB
4. prohibition, grateful dead, underground railroad
Advanced Search
1. Search full text “panama canal” with quotation marks. Results list & Additional
Results (right column). Left column for Military and Intelligence Operations (not
refine, run again). Results show icons for images & links
2. Sportsmen from New York
3. Public Prosecutors (complete list), born between 1900-1930
4. Special collections
Browse
By ANB or Oxford Companion to United States History
Last update 19.11.13